New Delhi: Skipper Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli have been facing the heat from all corners after their disastrous show in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. Questions are being asked about their future in Test cricket with calls growing louder for the duo to be dropped from the longest format or asked to retire.
Both Kohli and Rohit headed into the five-match Test series against Australia with high expectations. However, the senior batters failed to live up to them and failed miserably, leaving to intense criticism. Kohli finished the series with only 190 runs from 5 Tests at a poor average of 23.75, including a solitary ton that came in the series opener in Perth.
Barring his unbeaten ton in Perth, Kohli struggled throughout the series as the Australian pacers consistently exploited his weakness with outside off deliveries. Rohit had an even worse campaign in Australia as he managed only 31 runs in three Test matches at an average of 6.20, the lowest ever for a touring captain in a Test series in Australia.
Rohit had to eventually be left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final Test in Sydney owing to his poor form and below-par returns. Both senior batters continuously faced the ire of the fans on social media after their constant failures in the series with many urging them to retire from Test cricket before the calls grew even louder.
As India look to prepare for the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle after missing out on a place in the final this time around, they should be looking to promote young blood in the Test squad. India have no derth of talent when it comes to batting and with proper backing and grooming, they can find suitable replacements for Kohli and Rohit for the new cycle.
5 batters who can replace Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Tests:
1) Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been knocking on the selectors’ doors for a while with his consistent performances in the domestic circuit and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gaikwad nearly had his opportunity after he received his maiden Test call-up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final ahead of Yashavi Jaiswal in 2023. However, he skipped joining the squad due to his marriage.
Gaikwad has since been waiting for another call-up in the Indian Test squad and is yet to make his debut for India in the longest format. He has already proven his mettle in T20Is and has also played 6 ODIs for India. Gaikwad has 2533 runs in 37 first-class matches at an average of 41.52, including 7 centuries and 13 fifties. A technically solid batter, he can be an ideal replacement for Rohit as an opener for India in Tests.
2) Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal was included in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 squad after his impressive show for India A on their tour of Australia ahead of the series. Padikkal has already played 2 Tests for India and has 90 runs to his name. The elegant left-hander from Karnataka can bat across positions in the top four and can be an asset for India in Tests.
Padikkal has proven his mettle in the domestic circuit where he has been a consistent performer for Karanata. He has also got the skills, technique and temperament required to play at the highest level. If groomed properly, the 24-year-old can become a long-term solution for India’s top-order woes in the longest format.
3) Sai Sudharsan
One of the most talented young batters in the country at present, Sai Sudharsan has been making waves in the domestic circuit for a while now. The talented left-hander also shone for India A on their tour of Australia with a century against Australia A. He has also proven his mettle in the English county and seems ready to take the next step in his career.
Sudharsan, who usually bats at no.3, can also open the innings and can be a long-term solution for India at the top. He has played 28 first-class matches in his career so far and has 1948 runs at an average of over 41, including 7 centuries and 5 fifties with the highest score of 213.
4) Dhruv Jurel
India can also take a punt on young wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and promote him to the top order as a specialist batter much like they have done with KL Rahul in the past. Jurel, a talented right-hander, made his Test debut for India last year and quickly cemented his spot in the team with his impressive performances.
In 4 Tests he has played so far, Jurel has 202 runs at an average of over 40 and has shown he can merit a place in the team as a specialist batter. The youngster also did well against Australia A recently with scores of 80 and 68 in the only practice match he played. Though he couldn’t replicate his heroics against Australia in the 1st Test in Perth, Jurel can be a viable option for India in the top order in Tests considering his skillset and temperament.
5) Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara’s name on the list might come as a surprise to many considering he is not as young as the others. But not many can question his credentials in the longest format. As a Test specialist, Pujara was once almost undroppable from India’s squad but the selectors and the team management decided to move on from the senior batter in 2022 before eventually calling him back for the WTC final in 2023.
However, ever since the WTC final Pujara has remained sidelined from the Test team despite calls over his inclusion in the squad again. Pujara can be an ideal replacement for Kohli at no.4 if the star batter continues to misfire. Pujara, 36, might not play for another five years but he can easily fit into India’s plans for the upcoming WTC cycle from 2025-27.
Amid questions over their future for India in Test cricket, here is a look at five batters who can replace Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the longest report for the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
